Guest post from Annie's sister Susan

Five and a half years ago if you would have told me I would be standing in Annie’s kitchen making a Christmas fruitcake under the watch full eye and supervision of Annie, I would have said no way.

But this past Saturday morning I was in Annie’s kitchen facing a beautiful Austin morning sunrise and cutting cherries in three long parallel slices for a fruit cake that Annie would be taking to a party in Dripping Springs Texas.

Annie had all of the ingredients out my job was to slice, measure, combine and pour in to the butter greased glass dish with Annie supervising every step.

I have observed when Annie is in her wheel chair, communication is always chaotic. I have to remind Annie to stay on one subject which is baking the fruitcake. The wheel chair gives Annie’s mind the chance to whirl around because she doesn’t have to focus on walking or standing.   And whirl around it does, a dozen different subjects were brought up.

If Annie is not in her wheel chair, she always is focused on her balance and making sure she will not fall. This makes me realize how unbelievable it is that she has accomplished so much in the past five and a half years since her stroke. If I had to think about every step I take I would never get anything done.

Bob corrected the oven setting from convection to regular, we put the fruit cake in for one hour and it came out perfecto!

It will be too late for you to make this for Christmas but the red cherries look so pretty it will work for Valentines Day. I hope you will make this fruitcake and with every bite think of Annie and remember the love and effort and devotion she puts forth every day in all that she accomplishes!

FRUIT CAKE RECIPE:

Set oven to 325 degrees

1 lb. candied cherries (sliced)

1 7oz. package coconut

½ cup diced dates

3 cups chopped pecans

1 tsp. vanilla

1 can sweetened condensed milk

¼ tsp. salt

¾ cup flour

Mix sliced cherries, coconut, dates and pecans in large bowl.

Mix salt and flour and sprinkle over fruit and nut mixture.

Stir well

Add vanilla and sweetened condensed milk

Mix well

Pack into greased 4 ½ x 2 ¾ loaf pan

Bake 1 hour at 325 degrees

Planning

Everything and I truly mean everything takes longer than I think it used to.  It requires me to be a better planner than b.s. (before stroke).We stroke survivors should be mindful of reducing annoyances our caregivers may have such as; always having to wait for us because we are slower. If we can focus on better planning I think it could really help our respective caregivers. Remember, our caregivers have a thankless job, one which they never wanted in the first place.

Think about this: Typically Bob has to get me ready, get himself ready and then get us both ready.  It can be chaotic, even comical at times. Here are a few examples of things Bob has to help me with:

·        Buttoning or zipping a blouse if it fastens in the back

·        Putting on backs of earrings

·        Styling my hair

·        Applying eyeliner

·        Tying my shoes

·        Basically any two hand function activity

I don’t want to get to the point that my poor planning means we stay home because the hassle factor supersedes the benefit of going out. 

·        I have to apply some cognitive exercises when planning outings. 

·        Maybe I don’t wear the earrings that require assistance;

·        Maybe, I wear my day-to-day tennis shoes

·        Perhaps I wear a simpler blouse.

Always assume you will need more time than you have

Here is a good example:  Last night we were going to a party and I simply didn’t start getting ready early enough.  Before Bob even showered and dressed he styled my hair, fastened my bra, tried to help me put on a shirt that was very complex, (too tight for me to pull over my head and required 50 snaps) adjusted my leg brace, tied my shoes.  By the time he got ready, I made us both late to the function.

A second example:  Yesterday Bob had a meeting at 3:00 and I asked him to drop me at a movie on the way that started at 3:30. We agreed to leave at 2:30 so at 2:21 I made my final attempts to get out the door such as bathroom, put coat on, get purse and walk to the car.  All this took longer than 9 minutes and Bob was late for his meeting.  I guess my key point is the planning is crucial to maintain our caregiver’s sanity.